Stevenage Borough

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Stevenage Borough 3-1 Mansfield Town

Stevenage Borough went three points clear at the summit as they came from a goal down to defeat Mansfield Town 3-1 in a fiery encounter.

The Stags were lively in the first half and Jon Shaw fired a warning shot for the visitors on 18 minutes as he saw a speculative effort from 25 yards beat Stevenage keeper Chris Day and crash off the top of the bar.

The game fired into life midway through the first period as Jon Ashton took offence to a late kick from Kyle Perry.

The incident boiled over with the referee and his assistants having to get involved. After the dust had settled two players from each team received yellow cards for their part in the fracas.

Shortly afterwards Kyle Nick did enough to deserve a yellow as he knocked Chris Beardley to the ground.

Shaw was not to be denied again as he gave Mansfield the lead six minutes before half time. The ball fell invitingly to the Stags striker who fired into the far corner from 15 yards after a long Andy Nicholas throw.

Stevenage came out more determined in the second half and hit back shortly after the break. A free kick was only half cleared by the Mansfield defence, the ball reaching Yemi Odubade who saw his low drive go into the net via a wicked deflection.

A quarter of an hour later Odubade pounced for his second. Tim Sills shot was cleared off the line but only as far as Oudabe who fired home.

Borough made sure of the win four minutes later. Andrew Drury came off the bench to score a stunning third for the home side.

Mansfield Town's misery was complete when Luke Jones was sent off following a professional foul in the box. Odubade dusted himself off from the challenge and could have had a hatrick, only to see his penalty saved by Stags keeper Alan Marriott.

The victory sends Stevenage past Oxford, who lost 2-1 at Luton.

Stevenage Borough bookings: Ashton, Beardsley.

Mansfield Town bookings: Perry, Duffy, Nix, Mills, Nicholas.

Sent Off: Jones (88).

Att: 1,753.

Ref: Ian Smedley (Derbyshire).